Lounge or couch bed



No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. S. BOWIE. LOUNGE. 0R COUCH BED.

Patented Mayv 16, 1893.

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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

W. S. BOWIE.

LOUNGE OR COUCH BED. No. 497,748. Patented May 16, 1893..

Witnesses lm/Eql'm MM 0C QMMLM VAMLMJ/WM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. BOWIE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LOUNGE OR COUCH BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,748, dated May 16, 1893.

Application filed May 31, 1892.

T0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. Bowin, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in a Lounge or Couch Bed,of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to that class of beds commonly called lounge or couch beds, and has for its object to improve the construction of the mechanism employed for extending it transversely, that it may be widened for a full width bed or closed up and used as a single width bed, and furthermore has for its object to provide means for holding the side edges of the mattress when the bed is closed up as a single width bed, so that the said mattress may serve as the upholstery for the lounge, over which may be spread a suitable coverlet;

In accordance with this invention two or more transverse slat-supporting frames of a length substantially equal to the Width of the bed when made single, are secured to each side rail, or made movable therewith, four such frames being herein shown, and two of said frames, preferably the intermediate ones, each have a rack which is engaged by a pinion on a centrally located longitudinal shaft, adapted to be turned by a suitable crank or hand wheel or otherwise, at one end of the bed. The racks attached to the slate-supporting frames of one half or section of the bed are arranged to be engaged by the upper side of the pinions, while the racks attached to the slat-supporting frames of the other half or section of the bed are arranged to be engaged by the under side of the pinions, so that as said pinions are revolved in one or the other direction, said sections will be moved toward and from each other. The said slat-supporting frames, or nearly all of them, are provided at that end remote from the side rails with a leg, supplied with a suitable caster to facilitate the movement. The side rails are connected at the ends to suitably shaped end pieces, arranged parallel to the slat-supporting frames, which are adapted to slide on steps arranged on the head board and foot board, and said connected side rails and end pieces are provided with corner posts or legs sup- Serial No. 434,942. (No model.)

plied with casters. The side rails are inclined outwardly, and are each provided upon their upper edge with a suitable extension, back of which a pocketor recess is presented adapted to receive the side edge of the mattress and other bed clothing when the bed is closed up. The side slats are secured to the slatsupporting frames, while the remaining intermediate slats rest loosely upon said frames, and are connected together and to the rigidly connected side slats by cords or chains, or otherwise, so that as the slatsupporting frames are moved from each other, carrying the side slats with them, the intermediate slats will be separated by means of the cords or chains being drawn taut. The head rest is made in two parts separable transversely, which parts are secured to or supported by the end pieces at the head of the bed.

Figure 1, showsin side elevation a lounge or couch embodying thisinvention; Fig. 2, atransverse vertical section of the bed shown in Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line Jo-w, on an enlarged scale, the mattress being shown in elevation; Fig. 3, a sectional view on the line y, y of Fig. 7; Fig. 4, a detail View showing the head rest; Fig. 5, a sectional View in detail showing the guides for the end pieces; Fig. 6, a detail view showing the head rest; Fig. 7, a plan view, the slats being partly broken away.

The side rails a, a, are connected at each end to end pieces a a which are made of suitable length so that when abutting against each other endwise, they will correspond with the width that is desired for the lounge or couch, or a single width bed.

The end pieces a a at each end of the bed are guided by or adapted to slide on steps c0 formed on the lower ends of the head board 12, and foot board 0, said head board and foot board each having a central leg supplied with a caster. ,The foot board 0, has also a bead a, which overlaps the upper edge of the end pieces a 0. to better provide a guide therefor see Fig. 5. Cleats or braces a, are secured to said side rails, a, a at suitable points between their ends, which pro ject some little distance above the upper edges of said side rails, as shown in Fig. 2, said cleats or braces being cut away at their outer sides as shown.

Two transversely extended and parallel arranged slat-supporting frames (1, d, are secured to the braces a, on the side rail a, and two like transversely extended and parallel arranged slat-supporting frames d (i are secured to the bracesa, on the side rail to. These slat-supporting frames d, d, (1 d are each provided at their ends remote from the side rails with a leg having a caster. These frames d, d, d d each have an elongated slot or opening (1 which receives a longitudinal shaft e, said shaft having its hearings in the head and foot boards, yet if found sufficient one of said bearings may be omitted. At points on the shaft e, within the slots or openings 61 two. pinions (i are secured, which are made wide enough to engage racks such as 01 (1 secured .to the said slat-supporting frames within the slots d or said racks may be otherwise located. The racks d, are secured to the frames (1 01 so as to be engaged by the upper side of the pinions, and the racks 01 are secured to the frames d, 01, so as to be engaged by thelower side of the pinions, and by turning the shaft 6, and thereby rotating the pinions, the said racks d", and 61 will be moved in opposite directions, thereby moving the slat-supporting frames toward and from each other, depending in which direction the pinions are rotated.

One end of the shaft e, may be squared to receive a wrench or crank, or other device, by means of which said shaft may be turned, or any other suitable means may be employed for turning said shaft.

By employing racks and pinions as shown as a means for moving the slat-supporting frames toward and from each other, it will be seen that said movement is positive and alike at each end of the bed.

Slat-supporting frames d d", are secured to the side rail (1', near its ends, which are made similar to the frames d d and arranged in parallelism therewith, they projecting above the side rail and being cut away at the ends adjacent to said side rail like the frames d d and said frames d d are also slotted at their opposite ends to receive the shaft e and permit movement of the frame. Corner posts d, are provided which serve as legs, they being provided with casters.

Slat-supporting frames d, d, are secured to the side rail a, being made similar to the frames (1, d, and arranged in parallelism therewith, and provided with slots for the shaft e, and at the lower end of said frames 01 (1 a step d is formed upon which the frames d d slide. Corner posts (1 are secured to the frames (W, 61 which extend down and serve as legs, being provided with casters.

Slats i, carrying springs 1 rest upon the transverse frames 01, d, d d d d, d, d, said slats being connected together by means of cords or chains 2, and the side slats are secured rigidly to the supporting frames or side rails, so that as said slat-supporting frames are moved from each other or retracted, the

side slats will be carried by them, and by means of the cords or chains the remaining or intermediate slats will be separated by means of the cords being drawn taut, or when said frames are moved toward each other said slats will be crowded together, one pushing against the one next to it.

At the foot of the bed the ends of the slats '71, project beneath the bead at, which assists in holding them in place.

At the side of the bed additional slats i are secured to the tops of the springs to present a defined edge over which the mattress and other bed clothing may be drawn.

To the upper edge of the inclined side rails a, at bars a are secured by suitable supports which in connection with the cut away or recessed portions of the supporting frames present suitable pockets or recesses, which receive the side edges of the full width mattress and other bed clothing when the bed is closed up, and when so made up a suitable covering will be provided for it, so that it will have the appearance of an upholstered lounge or couch.

At the head of the bed side pieces f, are

secured to the side rails and end pieces, the

upper edges of which are curved as shown, and semi-circular piecesf, are secured to the 'end pieces a which together with the side 1 pieces f, constitute a frame upon which strips of wood or other suitable material may be secured to form a head rest. This head rest is represented in Fig. 7, as divided in two parts, so that when the bed is closed up, the said parts will abut against each other, or

when separated will present between them an open space, which may be filled in any suitable way.

I claim 1. In a transversely extensible lounge or couch bed, the combination of the side rails a, a, and transversely arranged slat-supporting frames d, (1, connected to the side rail a, and transversely arranged slatsupporting frames d 01 connected to the side rails a, and a series of longitudinal slats carrying springs placed on said transversely arranged slat-supporting frames, the side slats of which are rigidly secured to, and movable with their supports while the intermediate ones are independently movable, and flexible connections between said slats by means of which the intermediate slats are separated as the side slats are moved from each other, the head and foot boards, the longitudinal shaft 6 having its hearings in said head and foot boards, two pinions (1 secured to said shaft, and racks 07, secured to the slat-supporting frames (1, d, the teeth of which project upwardly and engage the upper sides of the pinions (Z and racks d secured to the slat supporting frames (1 (i the teeth of which project downwardly and engage the under sides of the pinions d substantially as described.

2. In a transversely extensible lounge or couch bed, side rails and end pieces connected thereto, slat-supporting frames and slats thereon, and means for moving said slat-supporting frames to vary the width of the bed, combined with the bars a secured to the upper edges of said rails to thereby present pockets or recesses to receive the side edges of the mattress when the bed is closed up, and used as a lounge, substantially as described.

3. In a transversely extensible bed, side rails and end pieces connected thereto, said end pieces supporting a transversely separable head rest a head board and foot board which serve as guides for said end pieces, and transversely extensible bed bottom, combined with the side pieces f, and semi-circular pieces f, secured to the end pieces a at the head, and connected with the side pieces f, by slats, substantially as described.

4:. In a transversely extensible lounge or couch bed, inclined side rails and transverse slat-supporting frames projecting above said side rails, and cutaway at their ends adjacent to the said side rails, combined with bars a mounted on the upper edges of said side rails opposite said cut away portions to form in connection therewith pockets or recesses, slats carrying springs placed on said transverse slat-supporting frames, and a mattress placed on said springs, the side edges of which enter said pockets or recesses when the bed is closed up, substantially as described.

5. In a transversely extensible lounge or couch bed, the head board and foot board, transversely movable side rails inclined outwardly and rigidly attached to the braces which carry the slat supporting frame, transversely extensible bed bottom and full width mattress thereon, combined with bars secured to the upper edges of said side rails to thereby present pockets or recesses to receive the side edges of said full width mattress when the bed is retracted and used as a lounge, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 45 two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM S. BOWIE.

Witnesses:

BERNICE J. Novns, LUcY F. GRAVES. 

